Friends you meet while studying abroad could be some of the most treasured friends you'll have throughout your college experience.
I recently returned from a Spring Break trip to visit one of my best friends whom I met during my study abroad trip to South Africa this past summer. And I had nothing but time on my hands during the 10-hour drive back to Ohio, so I reflected on what makes study abroad friendships unique. There’s something special about friendships that begin in countries halfway across the world that makes them powerful beyond measure. I set out on my study abroad journey with dreams of learning about another country, gaining a better understanding of myself and meeting students from across the US. What I didn't know was in store for me was the depth of the friendships I formed while abroad.
Students who are unfamiliar with anyone else going on the trip have to be especially open-minded and open-hearted. I knew that going into the trip with an open heart was paramount for me, but even more important was realizing that other students had to adopt this spirit of openheartedness to choose to travel the world without the comfort of friends, as well. I also want to point out that even if you go with a friend from school, you will come away knowing them better than you did before traveling with them. The main message I want to share is that embracing new people is essential to all kinds of growth.
Upon reflection, here’s what makes the friendships that are formed while studying abroad so remarkable.
In most cases, the people you meet on study abroad trips do not know your background or history. And since study abroad trips range from two weeks to a few months, being honest and open on day one is important. On these trips, you get to know people and hopefully become more comfortable opening up faster than you would making new friendships at home. It might be uncomfortable at first, but for me, it made all the difference in my friendships that continued to bloom throughout the trip.
During study abroad programs, you meet people with different backgrounds in terms of geography, family and friends, colleges and hobbies. It’s exciting to meet people with different viewpoints and lessons learned from their personal experiences. You have everything to learn from people who are not like yourself. Their outlook on life may be different, their sense of humor may be different, their views on politics may be different, but you will manage to appreciate them and what they have to offer. And they will view you with a fresh set of eyes and perhaps help you to understand things about yourself.
Another component of study abroad friendships is that you experience life-changing views and experiences together.
One of the most momentous parts of my studying abroad experience was not having easy access to texting or Wi-Fi. We could not simply pick up our phones to text while on trips to different places. We had to talk to each other, and we all yearned to know each other better. To do this, we’d readily ask questions and play icebreakers in an effort to get to know each other. At home, if we feel awkward we turn to our phones and pretend to be preoccupied. When this facade is stripped away, students have to fight through uncomfortable silences with people, which really taught me how to have conversations with others. You learn how to figure out what people want to talk about by reading their body language and their reactions. I think this was one of the best experiences that resulted in making so many wonderful friendships abroad.
Since the trip was only five weeks long, we didn’t want to waste a second of our precious time together. During meals, we stacked our cell phones at the center of the table to ensure we were present with each other. This can be a hard practice to implement with people you see regularly and especially if it’s difficult during your four entire years of college. In this instance, we had a short period of time that we needed to be present for at each moment. I would definitely recommend trying to start this custom while you're abroad.
What I loved most about studying abroad was that there is room to be in awe of the strength of your peers. Studying abroad often plays a huge role in the lives of those who choose to take on the adventure and the challenges that come with it. Seeing your friends struggle with something but ultimately overcome it is not something that happens in our daily lives, but on study abroad trips it truly is. You may have to push limits you’ve placed on yourself or face fears you’ve never had to face before. And the people who are there with you will support you and love you along the way, just as you will do for them. These interactions lay the groundwork in forming unbreakable friendships.
If you have been blessed enough to make lasting friendships during a study abroad experience, take some time out of your day to thank them and express how they’ve impacted you. If you are planning or preparing to embark on a trip this upcoming year, get excited because you’re going to have one heck of a time. Keep in mind also that the places you go are influential, but not nearly as much as the people you are there with.
